THE EXPLAINER PHOBIAS

AN EXPLORATION INTO THE ORIGINS AND TREATMENTS OF IRRATIONAL FEARS

WILD RATS LIVING IN NEW YORK CITY SEWERS ARE CARRYING CORONAVIRUS

More than 15 per cent of rats captured in wastewater systems tested positive for the virus

COMPLETE CIRCUITRY OF AN INSECT BRAIN MAPPED FOR THE FIRST TIME

The model shows every single neuron and connection in the brain of a fruit fly larva

SIGNS OF VOLCANIC ACTIVITY FOUND ON VENUS FOR THE FIRST TIME

Images taken by the Magellan space probe in the 1990s could show evidence of eruptions or magma flow

SET THE JUICE LOOSE

This month, the JUICE mission blasts off on its eight-year voyage to Jupiter. Once there, it will peer at the planet's moons to find out if life could be lurking beneath their icy crusts...

DOWN ON THE ROBOT FARM

IN THE WEST, FARM WORKERS ARE IN SHORT SUPPLY... BUT ROBOTS ARE READY TO TAKE THEIR JOBS

Can chatbots encourage people to be nicer to each other?

The new wave of conversational psychology to push back against toxic language Al takes cues from social

COULD THE NEW GENERATION OF ANTI-OBESITY INJECTIONS BE A GAME-CHANGER?

UK chemists will soon be selling the weight-loss jabs

Meta Quest Pro: a VR headset for an unknown customer

The Meta Quest Pro is powerful and full of features, but, as Alex Hughes discovers, unless you’re already a full believer in the metaverse, it’s probably not for you

SOLARIS: ESA'S PLAN TO GENERATE POWER IN SPACE

Could building a network of orbital power stations help us solve the energy crisis?

THE SCIENCE OF HAPPINESS: RESEARCHBACKED WAYS TO BOOST YOUR WELLBEING

We could all use a little joy in our lives...

RARE GREEN COMET SEEN RACING THROUGH THE SKY FOR THE FIRST TIME IN MORE THAN 50,000 YEARS

The comet, C/2022 E3 (ZTF), last Neanderthals passed by when walked the Earth

EARTH'S CORE

The solid-iron core at the centre of our planet is slowing down, according to a new study... and it's making our days longer

LOOKING TO BURN MORE BODY FAT? START YOUR DAY WITH A MORNING WORKOUT

Taking exercise in the morning may help to boost the metabolism and burn more body fat

GENIUS COCKATOOS USE TOOLSETS TO COMPLETE TASKS LIKE LITTLE, FEATHERY HANDYPEOPLE

It is as yet unclear how many sugars they take in their tea

A FOURTH 'WHITE' TRAFFIC LIGHT WOULD HELP DRIVERLESS CARS TO EASE CONGESTION, SCIENCE SAYS

The extra light would indicate that autonomous vehicles had taken over control of the traffic flow at busy junctions

WORLD FACING IRREVERSIBLE AND CATASTROPHIC CONSEQUENCES IF NET ZERO CARBON NOT REACHED BY 2060

Computer models show melting ice sheets in Greenland and Antarctica could cause 100cm of sea level rise in the next 130 years

NEANDERTHAL GOURMETS REGULARLY FEASTED ON ROASTED CRAB

The discovery of cooked crab shells in a Lisbon cave is further evidence that the early hominids had a sophisticated culture

ENDANGERED MALE QUOLLS ARE CHOOSING SEX OVER SLEEP-AND IT MAY BE KILLING THEM

The finding could explain why males usually only survive for one mating season, while females can live through several

THE JWST HAS UNEARTHED EVIDENCE OF ANCIENT GALAXIES THAT SHOULDN'T EXIST

The presence of such massive galaxies lurking in the early Universe contradicts current cosmological models

Is hyperspace travel possible?

When will we be zipping round the cosmos like Baby Yoda and co?

THE AMAZON

THE WORLD'S BIGGEST, MOST BEAUTIFUL, AND MOST BIODIVERSE RAINFOREST

HOW PROCESSED FOOD HARMS YOUR MOOD

Mental health problems are on the rise. Yet there is growing evidence that the food we eat may be a vital ingredient to help us feel better

THE WONDERFUL WORLD OF SLIME

Runny noses, slippery sea creatures and that impossible-to-clean bit behind your sink all have one thing in common: slime. While it might make us cringe, life on Earth would be very different without it

THE MYSTERY OF THE BIGGEST BLACK HOLE IN THE UNIVERSE

Black holes are big. Very big. But physics makes it almost impossible for them to grow. Here's how one black hole defied the odds to swell to gargantuan proportions

Could we become cold, ruthless Cybermen?

We assess the likelihood of humanity turning into cyborgs, like Doctor Who's infamous foe

FUNGI: THE EXPLAINER

THIS DIVERSE KINGDOM INCLUDES YEASTS, MOULDS, MUSHROOMS AND TOADSTOOLS

THE LONELY HEARTS CLUB MAN

MEN ARE LOSING FRIENDS AND STRUGGLING TO MAKE NEW ONES- AND MISSING OUT ON POWERFUL HEALTH BENEFITS IN THE PROCESS. BUDDY, WHAT'S GOING ON?

FIRST CONTACT

WHAT HAPPENS IF WE EVER DETECT A SIGNAL FROM EXTRATERRESTRIAL INTELLIGENCE?

NATURE'S REAL-LIFE VAMPIRES

Count Dracula... Lestat de Lioncourt... Laszlo... all these vampires have got oodles of charisma, natty dress sense and an intriguing backstory. But the problem is, they're fictional. We reckon the animal kingdom can do a lot better. Suck on this...